|
Table of Contents: Statement of The DoctrineThe Foreknowledge of God Outline of Systems The Scriptures are The Final Authority By Which Systems are to be Judged A Warning Against Undue Speculation The Five Points of Calvinism Chart: "Calvinism v Arminianism" Total Inability Unconditional Election Limited Atonement Efficacious Grace The Perseverance Of The Saints That It Is Fatalism That It Is Inconsistent With the Free Agency And Moral Responsibility of Man That It Makes God the Author of Sin That It Discourages All Motives To Exertion That It Represents God As A Respecter of Persons, Or As Unjustly Partial That It Is Unfavorable To Good Morality That It Precludes A Sincere Offer of The Gospel To The Non-Elect That It Contradicts The Universalistic Scripture Passages Salvation By Grace Personal Assurance That One Is Among The Elect Predestination In The Physical World A Comparison With The Mohammedan Doctrine of Predestination The Practical Importance of The Doctrine Calvinism in History |
|
Reformed Doctrine of Predestination
Chapter IX - A Warning Against Undue Speculation Next Chapter
Just at this point we shall give a few words of warning against undue
speculation and curiosity in dealing with this lofty doctrine of Predestination.
Perhaps we can do no better than to quote the words of Calvin himself which are
found in the first section of his treatment of this subject: 'The discussion of
Predestination — a subject of itself rather intricate — is made very perplexed,
and therefore dangerous, by human curiosity, which no barriers can restrain from
wandering into forbidden labyrinths, and from soaring beyond its sphere, as if
determined to leave none of the Divine secrets unscrutinized or unexplored . .
First, then, let them remember that when they inquire into Predestination, they
penetrate into the inmost recesses of divine wisdom, where the careless and
confident intruder will obtain no satisfaction to his curiosity . . For we know
that when we have exceeded the limits of the word, we shall get into a devious
and irksome course, in which errors, slips, and falls will be inevitable. Let us
then, in the first place bear in mind, that to desire any more knowledge of
Predestination than that which is unfolded in the Word of God, indicates as
great folly as to wish to walk through impassible roads, or to see in the dark.
Nor let us be ashamed to be ignorant of some things relative to a subject in
which there is a kind of learned ignorance." 1
We are not under obligation to "explain" these truths; we are only under obligation to state what God has revealed in His word, and to vindicate these statements as far as possible from misconception and objections. In the nature of the case all that we can know concerning such profound truths is what the Spirit has seen fit to reveal concerning them, being confident that whatever God has revealed is undoubtedly true and is to be believed although we may not be able to sound its depths with the line of our reason. In our ignorance of His inter-related purposes, we are not fitted to be His counselors. "Thy judgments are a great deep," said the psalmist. As well might man attempt to swim the ocean as to fathom the judgments of God. Man knows far too little to justify him in attempting to explain the mysteries of God's rule. The importance of the subject discussed should lead us to proceed only with profoundest reverence and caution. While it is true that mysteries are to be handled with care, and while unwarranted and presumptuous speculations concerning divine things are to be avoided, yet if we would declare the Gospel in its purity and fullness we must be careful not to withhold from believers what is declared in the Scriptures concerning Predestination. That some of these truths will be perverted and abused by the ungodly is to be expected. No matter how plainly it is taught in Scripture, the unenlightened mind considers it as absurd, for instance, that one God should exist in three persons, or that God should foreknow the entire course of world events, as that His plan should include the destiny of every person. And while we can know only as much about Predestination as God has seen fit to reveal, it is important that we shall know that much; otherwise it would not have been revealed. Where Scripture leads we may safely follow. |
Click on the Blue Banner graphic to return to the home page from anywhere on this site.